Volume 2016, Issue 16013,
April 2016

The good rains that came before Easter were just enough to cover some of South Africa's parched areas in a thin veil of green, but the relief was fleeting. South Africans have already started to see a rise in food prices due to drought-related shortages, and the worst is yet to come for farmers and consumers. It is time for government to acknowledge the urgency and severity of the drought and declare a national disaster.

Many farmers are not only struggling with the environmental effects of the drought, but experiencing monetary difficulties. Marius Volschenk, Nedbank's area manager of agriculture in Bloemfontein, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the importance of long-term financial planning.

South Africa's quest for global competitiveness has widened the gap between established poultry producers and new entrants. It is imperative to come up with new transformation models. Dr Charlotte Nkuna, head of transformation at the SA Poultry Association, spoke to Jacques Claassen about possible scenarios.

Oak Valley Estate in the Elgin Valley grows apples and pears, among many other product lines, on a commercial scale. Key to the farm's production for the export market is extensive forward planning and constantly refining farming practices ahead of necessity. Jay Ferreira spoke to the general manager for the fruit division, Ernst Heydenrych.